Wilson steps up to task of shaping density

Mayor Keri Wilson has emerged as the City Council’s most effective and responsible member regarding Town Center redevelopment. Her comments on high-density housing have resulted in project developers reducing the number of units on several land parcels.

While other council members ask developers what density levels they need for financial success, Wilson works to keep the numbers more in line with the city’s historic standards.

Wilson clearly values public input. Other council members lecture at length about what’s needed for “the heart and soul of the community” and say, “We can’t please everyone.”

For Wilson, at least, the recent downtown workshops were not a publicity gimmick, and the monthly community meetings aren’t merely “dog and pony” shows by the developer.

Of course, Wilson solidly supports the Old Town makeover, and she often can be curt with opponents during the council’s public comment periods. But so far she’s the only council member to truly respond to citizen concerns about high-density development.

In fact, Wilson’s colleagues should consider keeping her on for another one-year stint as mayor when her term expires in December. She’s grown much more confident in her role since her early council meetings when she’d apologize for asking questions of city staff.

Councilman Mike Duvall is slated to move into the mayor’s chair at the end of the year.

But he might not be the best choice to lead council and Redevelopment Agency meetings because he must excuse himself from the dais when Town Center matters are discussed.

Duvall has an ownership interest in the building on the northeast corner of Main Street and Lemon Drive from which he conducts his Farmers Insurance Agency business. He can’t participate in or even be present for Town Center discussions and decision-making.

Also, Duvall will be busy raising money and campaigning for the 72^nd District Assembly position to be vacated by Lynn Daucher (R-Brea) in 2006. He’ll face several opponents in the June 2006 Republican primary, including Brea Councilman Marty Simonoff.

A high visibility turn as mayor certainly would help Duvall in his campaign, but Yorba Lindans need a leader who can play an active role in the important Town Center issues.

If the Old Town developers want real citizen support and a 4-0 council vote for their Town Center plans, they’ll continue to listen to Wilson and moderate their housing density proposals in the project’s first phase as well as the several future phases.

And if Wilson hews to her 2002 campaign pledge--“We cannot tolerate high density housing or destruction of our open spaces”--Yorba Linda might end up with a vibrant Town Center area that also reflects the community’s historic low-density identity.

A FINAL NOTE--The numerous e-mails I receive supporting preservation of the city’s low-density environment come from both longtime residents and relative newcomers.

Among the latter is a note from Kathleen Bridges, a three-year resident. She says she’s revised the city’s “Land of Gracious Living” entryway sign, which sports two mountain peaks, a tree and a person on a horse.

"My picture includes two mountain peaks with roads traversing up the mountains. On the roads are bumper-to-bumper cars” with the mountains “completely filled with high-rise buildings and wall-to-wall houses,” she writes.